Paterson Simons & Co.

What Paterson Simons & Co. does

Paterson Simons & Co. (legally Paterson Simons & Co (Africa) Ltd.) is a privately held, UK-incorporated industrial-equipment distributor and service provider headquartered in Brighton, United Kingdom, with operational subsidiaries serving West and Central Africa — including Pasico Ghana and an office in Nigeria — and active service coverage in Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Liberia. The company has operated continuously for over 75 years and self-describes as the market leader in crane, reachstacker, telehandler and forklift sales and service across the region.

Its core offering is the authorized regional distribution, sales, service and spare-parts supply of heavy lifting and material handling equipment on behalf of multiple international OEMs, including Konecranes (mobile harbour cranes, RTGs, reach stackers, container handlers, forklifts, overhead and jib cranes), Manitowoc/Grove and Potain (crawler, all-terrain, rough-terrain, carrydeck and tower cranes), Manitou (access platforms, telehandlers, forklifts, warehouse equipment and mining attachments), Terberg (RoRo and yard tractors), Trelleborg (marine fenders), Fogmaker (fire suppression), Kempower (DC charging), Stinis (spreaders), Franna (pick-and-carry cranes), JCB Teletruk and Alimak Hek (rack-and-pinion lifts). The company also distributes Pat Kruger load indicators and its own hoist & rigging gear range. The underlying technology is not proprietary; value is created through brand aggregation, in-region logistics, OEM-certified service capability and spare-parts coverage including legacy brands.

The business model combines three revenue streams: one-time equipment sales of new capital equipment, recurring hardware sales of spare parts delivered across West and Central Africa, and professional services for installation, maintenance and repair. Customers are enterprise buyers in three primary verticals — mining, ports & logistics, and oil & gas — reached through a direct field-sales and service motion across the region, supplemented by an English/French website, brochure library, newsletter, and participation in industry events such as WAMPEX 2026. The group holds SGS-audited ISO 9001 (UK) and ISO 45001 (group-wide) certifications, and operates with 51–100 employees.

Name

Paterson Simons & Co.

Legal name

Paterson Simons & Co (Africa) Ltd.

Website

https://patersonsimons.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Paterson Simons & Co. is a privately held, UK-incorporated distributor and service provider that sells, services and supplies spare parts for heavy lifting and material handling equipment from 11+ international OEMs across West and Central Africa, serving mining, ports & logistics and oil & gas customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Equipment Distribution

NAICS

Industrial Truck, Tractor, Trailer, and Stacker Machinery Manufacturing (333924), Overhead Traveling Crane, Hoist, and Monorail System Manufacturing (333923), Construction Machinery Manufacturing (333120)

SIC

Wholesale-Industrial Machinery & Equipment (5084), Industrial Trucks, Tractors, Trailors & Stackers (3537), Construction Machinery & Equip (3531)

akta.pro primary industry

Cranes, Hoists & Overhead Material Handling (Industrial) (IMAHABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Loading/Unloading & Transfer Equipment (Telescopic Conveyors, Loaders, Tipplers) (IMAHABAI), Material Handling & Industrial Lift Vehicle Manufacturing (Forklifts/Telehandlers/Reach Stackers) (IMACAFAD), Lifting Attachments & Material Handling Accessories (Fork Attachments, Slings, Rigging) (IMAHABAJ), Rail Terminal Cargo Handling Equipment Operations & Maintenance (Cranes, Reach Stackers, RTGs) (TLAJAFAG), Gear & Lifting Equipment Rental (Cranes, Spreaders, Forklifts, Reach Stackers) (TLAHALAD)

Keywords

• Industrial equipment distribution
• Crane sales service
• Material handling equipment
• Port logistics equipment
• Mining lifting equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Brighton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Equipment Sales: Sales of new lifting and handling equipment including cranes, forklifts, reach stackers, telehandlers, and mobile cranes from multiple international brands
2. Spare Parts: Dedicated logistics team delivers spare parts for Konecranes, Manitou, Manitowoc, Grove, Potain and other brands throughout West and Central Africa
3. Service and Maintenance: Service and maintenance services for lifting and handling equipment

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Paterson Simons & Co. is an industrial equipment distributor and service provider that wholesales, distributes, and maintains lifting and material handling equipment across West and Central Africa. The company supplies cranes, forklifts, reach stackers, telehandlers, mobile harbour cranes, rubber-tyred gantry cranes, tower cranes, access platforms, marine fenders, fire suppression, DC charging, spreaders and rigging equipment from leading international brands, and supports installed equipment through spare-parts logistics and field service.

Product overview

Paterson Simons & Co. is a regional distributor offering a comprehensive portfolio of lifting and handling equipment throughout West and Central Africa. The company serves as a master distributor for multiple international equipment manufacturers including Konecranes, Terberg, Manitowoc/Grove (including Potain), Manitou, Fogmaker, Kempower, Stinis, Franna, JCB, and Alimak Hek. Their product portfolio encompasses mobile harbour cranes, rubber-tyred gantry cranes, reach stackers, container handlers, forklifts, overhead cranes, mobile cranes, tower cranes, telehandlers, access platforms, marine fenders, fire suppression systems, DC charging solutions, spreaders, and hoist/rigging equipment. The company provides sales, spare parts supply, and service support across Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia and broader West and Central Africa, serving mining, ports & logistics, and oil & gas industries with over 75 years of experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Paterson Simons: The primary trading name of Paterson Simons & Co (Africa) Ltd., operating as West and Central Africa's leading supplier of cranes, reachstackers, telehandlers and forklifts.

Products and services

• Konecranes Lifting and Material Handling Equipment Authorized regional distribution and sales of Konecranes port and material handling equipment (Gottwald Mobile Harbour Cranes, RTGs, reach stackers, empty container handlers, forklift trucks, overhead cranes and jib cranes) for enterprise customers in ports, terminals, warehouses and industrial facilities in West and Central Africa.
• Terberg RoRo and Yard Tractors Sales and service of Terberg RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off) and Yard Tractors for vehicle handling and intermodal/logistics operations at ports, terminals and logistics yards in West and Central Africa.
• Manitowoc/Grove and Potain Cranes Sales and service of Manitowoc/Grove crawler cranes, all-terrain mobile cranes, rough terrain mobile cranes, Carrydeck cranes, and Potain self-erecting and top-slewing tower cranes for construction, mining and industrial projects in West and Central Africa.
• Manitou Material Handling and Access Equipment Sales and service of Manitou access platforms, industrial forklifts, rough terrain forklifts, telehandlers, warehouse equipment and a range of attachments (including mining-specific attachments) for construction, mining, warehouse and industrial customers in West and Central Africa.
• Trelleborg Fender Sales and Service Sales, repair, service and installation of Trelleborg marine fenders for port protection to ports, terminals and maritime operators throughout West Africa.
• Fogmaker Fire Suppression Systems Distribution and servicing of Fogmaker water-mist fire suppression systems designed to protect heavy equipment, including machines deployed in hazardous environments.
• Kempower DC Charging Solutions Distribution of Kempower DC fast-charging solutions for electric vehicles and heavy electric equipment.
• Stinis Container Spreaders Distribution of Stinis container spreaders used in maritime and port container handling operations.
• Franna Pick and Carry Cranes and Site Dumpers Distribution of Franna pick-and-carry cranes and site dumpers used in construction and mining applications across West and Central Africa.
• JCB Teletruk Telescopic Forklifts Distribution of JCB Teletruk telescopic forklift trucks with side-loading capability for material handling operations.
• Alimak Hek Rack and Pinion Lifts and Platforms Distribution of Alimak Hek rack and pinion construction lifts and work platforms used for construction and industrial access applications.
• Hoist and Rigging Equipment Sale and supply of hoists, slings, shackles and other lifting gear, including fully stocked crane hoist and rigging containers, available for hire or purchase throughout West Africa.
• Pat Kruger Load Indicators Distribution of Pat Kruger load indicators and monitoring systems used for crane safety and load capacity management.
• Crane and Equipment Spare Parts Supply Dedicated logistics team delivers OEM and legacy spare parts for Konecranes, Manitou, Manitowoc, Grove, Potain and other brands anywhere in West and Central Africa.
• Crane and Equipment Service and Maintenance Maintenance and service support for cranes and lifting equipment across West and Central Africa, including legacy brands.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and support.

• KonecranescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPaterson Simons is a long-standing distributor of Konecranes products across West and Central Africa, including Gottwald Mobile Harbour Cranes, Rubber Tyred Gantry Cranes, Reach Stacker Trucks, Empty Container Handlers, Forklift Trucks, Overhead Cranes, and Jib Cranes
• TerbergcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for Terberg products including RoRo Tractor and Yard Tractor series in West and Central Africa
• Manitowoc/GrovecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for Manitowoc/Grove products including Crawler Cranes, All Terrain Mobile Crane, Rough Terrain Mobile Crane, Carrydeck Crane, and Potain Tower Cranes
• ManitoucoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for Manitou products including Access Platforms, Industrial Forklift, Rough Terrain Forklifts, Telehandlers, Warehouse Equipment, and Attachments
• TrelleborgsupportChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProvides Trelleborg fender sales and service throughout West Africa
• FogmakersupportChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributes Fogmaker fire suppression systems for equipment protection
• KempowersupportChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributes Kempower DC charging solutions for electric equipment
• StinissupportChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributes Stinis spreaders for container handling operations
• FrannasupportChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributes Franna pickup and crane trucks for the region
• JCB TeletruksupportChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributes JCB Teletruk products for material handling
• Alimak HeksupportChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributes Alimak Hek rack and pinion lifts and platforms
• Pasico GhanacoreOthersPasico Ghana is a Paterson Simons subsidiary that connects with industry leaders at events like WAMPEX 2026 in Ghana

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Liebherr: Global manufacturer of mobile and crawler cranes, port equipment, and material handlers. Comparable broad incumbent with overlapping product categories (mobile harbour cranes, crawler cranes) and its own distribution network across Africa.
• Konecranes: Global manufacturer of cranes, port solutions, and lifting equipment. Comparable as Paterson Simons' largest principal, with overlapping product categories (mobile harbour cranes, RTGs, reach stackers, forklifts) and the ability to serve West African end customers directly.
• Manitowoc Company: Global manufacturer of cranes (crawler, mobile, tower) under Manitowoc, Grove, and Potain brands. Comparable as a key principal whose entire crane portfolio is distributed by Paterson Simons across West and Central Africa.
• Terex Corporation: Global manufacturer of aerial work platforms, cranes, and materials processing equipment. Comparable as a broad incumbent in lifting and material handling with overlapping product lines distributed through dealer networks.
• Cargotec: Finland-based global provider of cargo handling solutions including Kalmar port equipment and Hiab load-handling. Comparable broad incumbent in container handling, port equipment, and material handling markets where Paterson Simons competes.

Direct peers

• Barloworld: South Africa-based multinational industrial distributor and rental company. Directly comparable as a multi-brand heavy equipment distributor (Caterpillar, Hyster, etc.) serving mining, infrastructure, and logistics customers across Africa.
• H&E Equipment Services: US-based distributor and renter of heavy equipment including cranes, aerial work platforms, and material handling equipment. Comparable model combining new equipment sales with parts, service, and rental revenue streams.
• Mantrac: Authorized Caterpillar dealer for Africa and the Middle East. Directly comparable as a regional heavy equipment distributor focused on construction, mining, and power systems with spare parts and service support.
• WesTrac: Authorized Caterpillar dealer operating in Africa and Australia. Comparable multi-brand heavy equipment distributor model serving mining, construction, and infrastructure customers with both equipment sales and aftermarket service.
• BIBUS Group: European-headquartered multi-brand industrial equipment distributor. Comparable business model of distributing and servicing cranes, lifting, and material handling equipment from multiple international principals.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PatersonSimons

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Paterson Simons & Co.